Hatake Sakumo: I Didn't Go Easy On You, Kakashi.

"Then let's begin, Sakumo-san."

Seisui lifted Muramasa and took a deep breath.

Among the opponents Seisui had faced so far, the strongest was Uchiha Yashiro, but that elite jonin was completely countered by Seisui's techniques, making him an ineffective benchmark.

The Hatake Sakumo before him, however, was a genuine Kage-level ninja without a shred of exaggeration—a soul figure who could still serve as a spearhead and core in the midst of a great ninja war.

The Double Tomoe Sharingan behind Seisui's water film spun rapidly.

The Muramasa in his hand erupted with even fiercer flames.

In an instant.

Muramasa's blade, carrying a roaring blaze, slashed toward Hatake Sakumo from an odd angle!

"So fast!"

Kakashi beside him was startled. Even though he was straining to observe the battle with all his might, Seisui's speed had already surpassed his imagination—he could only make out faint afterimages!

"If Uchiha Seisui went all out against me, I probably wouldn't even have time to release Earth-Style Wall..."

Kakashi's eyes widened, filled with unwillingness.

"Clang!"

The sharp White Fang, wrapped in dense azure Chakra, precisely blocked Muramasa's edge.

Seisui narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself: My speed is clearly within Hatake Sakumo's perception—I'm generally a step below him, so he's this composed.

As for strength, I still need to test it... No, I need to put everything into one slash at him...

Seisui withdrew his blade, the muscles in his arm bulging. Chakra, under precise control, bolstered his strength and channeled it into Muramasa. At the same time, his Tomoe spun, releasing Dojutsu to assault Hatake Sakumo with Genjutsu!

"Strange Strength · Tobirama-Izuna Style Sword Technique · One-Slash Sweeping Cut!"

Blending Tobirama's Strange Strength, the Sharingan's Dojutsu, and the sword techniques of Uchiha Izuna and Tobirama Senju, Seisui had perfectly combined the strengths of those two opponents into his own move!

Tobirama Senju narrowed his eyes, sensing the force of this slash, and snorted: "Overcomplicating things. With my Senju Style Sword Technique, I wouldn't lose to the Hatake Samurai Sword Style..."

"But that brat Seisui has combined it decently—it's a troublesome slash."

Yet contrary to his words.

This slash from Seisui reminded Tobirama of himself, of Uchiha Izuna, and vaguely made him feel the power of the Senju and Uchiha merging.

The techniques of these two clans, locked in a millennium of conflict, seemed to blend together unexpectedly smoothly and seamlessly, leaving Tobirama with a faint sense of enlightenment.

Hatake Sakumo and Seisui locked eyes.

For some reason, Seisui's deep gaze seemed to make him feel a momentary daze.

And in that brief instant, Seisui's heavy blade had already breached the safe distance, roaring toward his chest!

Hatake Sakumo was startled. Even with his willpower and experience, he broke free from the Genjutsu in an instant, but in close-quarters swordplay, every shred of advantage was crucial.

White Fang chased after the blade belatedly, arriving just in time to match Muramasa's speed!

But...

A strength beyond Hatake Sakumo's expectations crushed White Fang's edge!

The explosive power from the Senju's Strange Strength multiplied Seisui's force several times in this slash, and with the advantage of striking first, it broke through Hatake Sakumo's defense in one go!

Muramasa pressed down on White Fang, the entire long katana seeming to go berserk, carrying a bloodthirsty intent as if it would shatter both the short sword and Hatake Sakumo together!

Hatake Sakumo's Chakra erupted wildly, his speed pushed to its limit in an instant. Using Muramasa's force, he distanced himself from the blade as much as possible, narrowly dodging the slash by a hair's breadth!

"How is this possible... Father was pushed back by Uchiha Seisui!"

Kakashi was stunned. This scene surpassed his understanding.

In all his past training with his father, no matter how hard Kakashi tried, Hatake Sakumo always stood there smiling, not even shifting his feet, casually deflecting his attacks.

For a long time, Kakashi's short-term training goal had been to see Hatake Sakumo move during their sparring...

Blood trickled from Hatake Sakumo's chest. A shallow but clearly visible cut had pierced through his clothing.

Seisui slowly let out a long breath, feeling genuine respect for Hatake Sakumo's strength.

That slash was the full extent of Seisui's sword technique.

Combining Strange Strength, the Sharingan, and other first-strike-kill techniques, even against a Three Tomoe user like Uchiha Yashiro, Seisui was confident he could land a blow.

Yet even so, Hatake Sakumo had still evaded it.

"Impressive, truly impressive, Seisui-kun..." Hatake Sakumo casually glanced down at the wound on his chest and said with a smile:

"Lucky for me you're still a child, your body not yet fully developed—otherwise, I might have needed emergency treatment."

Seisui shook his head. While it was true that his age meant his Sage Body hadn't yet unleashed its full power...

But so what?

In the ninja world, surviving to adulthood as a genius was a great feat in itself, and one of the strongest talents.

When talent hadn't been converted into strength, it was nothing but worthless fame.

"Sakumo-san, please don't hold back. I want to see the true full power of a ninja like you."

Seisui looked seriously at Hatake Sakumo and said clearly and forcefully, "I have some basic knowledge of Medical Ninjutsu, so there's no need to worry about my injuries. Just leave me with a breath of life."

"Compared to Kakashi-kun, I rarely get the chance to fight a ninja like you, so I treasure it all the more."

Hatake Sakumo silently watched the solemn Seisui. After a long pause, he spoke softly, "Seisui-kun, you have a sincere heart."

"In that case, if I were to refuse further, it would be my own arrogance."

The moment his words fell, Hatake Sakumo's aura shifted subtly.

He became utterly dangerous and sharp, as if just looking into his eyes would sting, and a chill would creep up one's neck.

Suddenly!

Hatake Sakumo raised White Fang. Slashing waves as tall as several men roared forth from the blade in an unbroken stream, tearing through the ground before him at a speed barely perceptible to the naked eye, sealing off all of Seisui's escape routes!

And he himself turned into a blur, the edge of White Fang restrained to an almost imperceptible gleam, poised and ready in his hand, his gaze locked unwaveringly on Seisui's vital points!

Hatake Sakumo launched his attack in earnest.

#

"Father..."

After the battle ended, Kakashi looked bewildered at the scorched earth. "Did you hold back just now?"

Hatake Sakumo shook his head. "On the contrary, I was serious."

"Seisui-kun right now truly cannot face me head-on."

"But with his Genjutsu and Water Release, if Seisui didn't actively oppose me, it would be very difficult for me to restrain him..."

"Kakashi, keep it up. You may have met a genius of your generation."

"Still, your father believes in you..."

Yet in Hatake Sakumo's eyes, a trace of pity flickered.

He did not believe that Kakashi would one day surpass Seisui.

In every era of the ninja world, there is a ninja of extraordinary talent who drives his peers to utter despair, becoming the unclimbable mountain for all.

And Hatake Sakumo, with his ability to read people, vaguely sensed that Seisui might be just such a ninja.